BILL O'REILLY: Why do Reid, Dean want to scare whites?

Published 12:00 am, Saturday, August 28, 2010

With polls saying about 70 percent of Americans believe building an Islamic cultural center just two blocks from New York's ground zero is inappropriate, the left is again on the run.

Failing with the bogus "freedom of religion" argument, the crew that is offended by the Nativity scene at Christmas is saying the controversy is another attempt to "scare white people." Washington Post columnist Eugene Robinson has put forth that loopy argument.

The left says the Shirley Sherrod, ACORN and New Black Panther Party stories and the ouster of White House green jobs czar Van Jones were attempts to scare white Americans. Those stories did not frighten me. I hope I'm not out of the white loop.

Here's a key question: Why are former Gov. Howard Dean and U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., trying to scare white people? They believe the Islamic center should be built somewhere else. Why are these guys trying to frighten Caucasians, and what can we do to stop them?

What is somewhat scary is that liberal media continue to peddle this stuff in the face of economic disaster. CNN and MSNBC are in ratings trouble. Newsweek magazine recently sold for $1 and Time is having a tough go of it. The New York Times and The Washington Post are not nearly as successful or influential as they used to be. Not all of these are far left, but they have an ideological kinship with the loons. It's just a matter of degree.

The conservative Fox News Channel and The Wall Street Journal, whose editorial page is conservative, are both doing very well.

It is because of situations like the ground zero cultural center that liberals have lost credibility. Americans understand that New York City has more than 100 mosques. A new Islamic center located near the site where extremist Muslims murdered thousands is not necessary -- especially if the building would offend people who lost loved ones Sept. 11.

I believe the Islamic center will not be built. Some kind of compromise will likely be reached. If not, I can't imagine any New York City construction company lifting a hammer to build this project.

I know that may be scary to liberals, and I apologize if my prognostication upsets them. I never want to frighten anybody. I'll leave that to Congress.

Bill O'Reilly is host of the Fox News Channel show "The O'Reilly Factor." His column is distributed by Creators Syndicate, 5777 W. Century Blvd., Los Angeles, Calif. 90045.